Bodies of Two Israeli-American Hostages Recovered in Gaza
The Israeli military has recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American citizens, Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70, and her husband Gadi Haggai, 72, who were taken hostage in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Judi Weinstein Haggai also held Canadian citizenship.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) located the couple’s bodies in the southern Gaza area of Khan Younis during a special overnight operation. The bodies have been returned to Israel for forensic identification.
According to an Israeli military statement and family accounts, Judi and Gadi Haggai were tragically murdered by gunmen from the Mujahideen Brigades group during the initial assault on their home at Kibbutz Nir Oz.
A Tragic Story: From Home to Hostage
Judi, a retired English teacher, and Gadi, who previously worked in the kibbutz kitchen, were last seen alive the morning of the attack. Their families shared that the couple had “went out for a walk on the morning of that cursed Saturday and never returned.”
A video shared in a group chat showed them seeking cover in a field amidst the sound of gunfire and rockets fired from Gaza. Judi later managed to communicate with friends and relatives, indicating they had been wounded. According to their daughter, Iris Weinstein Haggai, her mother reported being “shot by terrorists on a motorcycle” and that her father was “wounded really bad.” Efforts to send an ambulance were reportedly thwarted when it was hit by a rocket.
Kibbutz Nir Oz announced in December 2023 that both Judi and Gadi had been killed during the attack, and their bodies were being held in Gaza.
Recovery Operation Based on Precise Intelligence
The operation to recover the bodies in Khan Younis was conducted based on “precise intelligence” gathered by the IDF and Shin Bet. While specific details of the sensitive operation were not disclosed, Israeli Army Radio reported that the intelligence was obtained through the Shin Bet’s interrogation of a Palestinian fighter captured in Gaza.
This recovery operation highlights the complex and ongoing efforts by Israeli forces in areas like Khan Younis, often involving precise intelligence and operations within urban environments or tunnel networks, to locate and retrieve hostages.
Reactions and Broader Context
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife expressed their condolences to the Haggai families, stating, “Our hearts grieve over this terrible loss. May their memories be blessed.” Netanyahu thanked the forces involved and reiterated Israel’s commitment: “We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.”
The couple’s families welcomed the news, finding some measure of closure. They stated they “welcome the closure and their return to a proper burial at home, in Israel.”
This recovery brings renewed focus on the fate of the remaining hostages in Gaza. As of the time of this report, 56 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas, with only 20 reportedly alive, and 36 believed to be deceased, including two American citizens, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 others. Before this conflict, four other people were already held captive in Gaza. So far, 199 hostages have been returned, 148 of whom were alive, mostly through temporary ceasefire deals.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a plea for accelerated action, urging decision-makers to agree on a new ceasefire deal to secure the immediate return of all remaining hostages. They emphasized the urgency, stating, “There is no need to wait another 608 agonizing days for this. The mission can be completed as early as tomorrow morning. This is what the majority of the Israeli people want.”
The recovery occurs amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which Israel launched in response to the October 7 attack. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 54,607 people have been killed in the territory since the start of the Israeli military operations. Recent hopes for a new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas have reportedly faded, with the parties remaining at odds over proposed terms for a truce and the release of remaining captives and Palestinian prisoners.
References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c989rl23zzno
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c989rl23zzno
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y9qpjyx8o
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israeli-military-recovers-bodies-6-hostages-gaza-rcna167305
- https://abcnews.go.com/International/israel-recovers-bodies-2-hostages-gaza/story?id=122522825
